Willy Loman's misguided interpretation of the so-called
"American Dream" drives him to be consumed by an all-encompassing notion that material
wealth and social acceptance are the only true measures of success in a man's
life.
For examples of how Willy's poisoned view of success taints the
fabled "American Dream," look to Act II when Willy's flashback recounts the afternoon
before the big football game at Ebbet's Field. Charley jokes that it is just a game,
mockingly forgetting the name of Red Grange and suggesting that the stadium had been
demolished in order to reiterate his point. Willy, however, is so obsessed with his
son's upcoming performance "in front of all the clients" that explodes at his friend for
diminishing what will no doubt be Biff's moment in the sun.
Throughout
the text, there is a recurrent theme of outer versus inner, where Willy projects an
"American Dream" of an idealized life that never actually happened. While his real life
is a humdrum nightmare of overdue bills, whipped cheese, and broken timing belts,
Willy's "American Dream" is a litany of coulda', shoulda', woulda's, all of which are
typically characterized by his memories (or imaginings) of great monetary wealth (as he
recounts his legendary sales figures to Howard in Act II, and the lost opportunity to
strike it rich in Alaska with Ben), high social standing ("I'll go to Boston... I'm well
liked in Boston") , and lofty recognition (note how Willy swears that he actually gave
Howard his name) that he never quite managed to attain.
This is an
outstanding book, and it is well worth a read!
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